Little Pals Children's Centre Nursery Limited

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are warmly greeted by a member of staff at the front door of the nursery. They confidently separate from their parent and enter, excited to see their friends. Younger children often hug a member of staff on arrival, demonstrating their close relationships. Children are confident as they quickly find their favourite resource and happily engage with the familiar routines of the day. Children thoroughly enjoy showing their friends their photos on the family tree display, proudly explaining who people are. Older children are very nurturing towards younger children when they come together; they help them to join in with their games.

Children make good use of the large outdoor area, enjoying the wide range of resources on offer. In both rooms, they love to explore water play, which is readily available in a range of interesting ways. Children use their imaginations as they excitedly use their water squirters to aim at the chalk boards, pretending to put out a fire. Children are very independent from an early age. Their self-care skills are very much promoted in the nursery. For example, they help themselves to water during the day and ask for snack when they are hungry. Children persist with tasks, even when they find them difficult. Younger children continue to try and squeeze the paint out of a small bottle, encouraged by nearby staff. Children have good manners and say 'please' and 'thank you'. Staff praise their efforts, which increases their self-esteem.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

• The nursery's curriculum has children at the heart of it. Staff focus on children's interests and parents' views, and use their observations and assessments to focus on what each child needs to develop further. Staff use their knowledge to plan inviting resources and activities to capture children's curiosity and encourage them to explore. Resources are open ended so that children can use items creatively. For example, children enjoy making a ramp using milk crates and wood. Staff skilfully position themselves to support children's learning through role modelling and suggesting new ideas to extend their play. However, some routines of the day do not always meet all children's needs. Some children disengage mid-morning, which can have an impact on other children's enjoyment.
• There is a strong emphasis on good communication. Staff effectively use songs, books and small-group work to develop children's speaking. They model good pronunciation and help nonverbal children by narrating play and naming objects.
• Children's imaginations are developing as they thoroughly enjoy role play. For example, they use a cardboard box as a doll's house and later a car. Staff engage in meaningful conversations. They skilfully ask open-ended questions to encourage children to think, and they listen carefully to their answers. Staff teach children about road safety when they visit the local community.
• Children's physical development is well considered. Staff provide a wide range of opportunities for them to practise and develop their skills. They can play on a slide and with bikes, but also develop their small-muscle skills by practising using scissors and kneading play dough. Children show their excitement as they confidently use utensils to dig in the mud to find the hidden carrots. Maths is evident in everyday resources. Children independently use mathematical words, such as 'long' and 'short' to compare, for example, the length of their hair.
• Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They encourage them to listen and effectively support them to share using a visual timer. Staff are developing children's emotional literacy by helping children to identify and name their feelings. Staff show genuine care for the children. The special educational needs coordinator works very closely with other professionals to help them with strategies to support children. However, at times, there is a lack of consistency when supporting children who display challenging behaviours. This has an impact on how quickly children can regulate themselves and feel aided to calm down.
• Partnerships with parents are good. Parents speak highly of the nursery, noting its homely feel. Staff support the whole family, not just the children. There are very strong partnerships with other agencies to support the most vulnerable families. Parents are invited to the nursery for events, such as coffee mornings and jubilee celebrations.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• reflect on and revise the routines of the day so that all children remain actively engaged
• ensure a consistent approach to supporting children to regulate their own behaviour.